shahr ke shahr ka afsana wo khush-fahm magar sada musafir
ki jinhen ishq ki lalkar ke rahzan ne kaha: aao!
dikhlaen tumhein ek dar-e-basta ke asrar ka khwab
shahr ke shahr ka afsana wo dil jin ke bayaban mein
kisi qatra-e-gum-gashta ke nagah larazne ki sada ne ye kaha:
aao dikhlaen tumhein subh ke honton pe tabassum ka sarab!
shahr ke shahr ka afsana wahi aarzu-e-khasta ke langdate hue pair
ki hain aaj bhi afsane ki duzdida o zhulida lakiron pe rawan
un asiron ki tarah jin ke rag-o-reshe ki zanjir ki jhankar
bhi tham jae to kah utthen kahan
ab kahan jaenge hum
jaen ab taza o nadida nigahon ke zamistan mein kahan?
un asiron ki tarah jin ke liye waqt ki be-sarfa salakhen
na kabhi sard na garm aur na kabhi sakht na narm
na rihai ki pazirai na asiri hi ki sharm
shahr ke shahr ka afsana wo ruhen jo sar-e-pul ke siwa
aur kahin wasl ki juya hi nahin
pul se jinhen par utarne ki tamanna hi nahin
is ka yara hi nahin!